Quick-adjusting wrench



W. F. HOTERIVIUNII QUICK ADIUSTING WRENCH.

'APPLICAUON FILED 1v1/m30. 1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. ROTERMUND, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

QUICK-ADJUSTING WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed March 30, 1920. Serial No. 369,998.

- one jaw is movable and is provided with means whereby it may be quickly released to shift it by a sliding movement.

The object of my invention is to provide a wrench in which the movable j aw may be y quickly released and locked in place relative to the other jaw and to provide a wrench having these characteristics which is of a simple construction and cheap to manufacture.

The particular features of which my invention consists will first be described in the specification and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings show wrenches which embody the features of my invention and in the construction which is now most preferred by ine.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and back edge views of a wrench of one construction.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a wrench embodying the same principles ef construction, but differing slightly inV its construction.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the The wrench as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has an outer jaw 1 which extends laterally from a shank 2. As shown in the drawings the fixed jaw 1 is formed integral with the shank 2. This is a feature which, while desirable, is however not strictly essential.

The movable jaw 3 has a sleeve or base section 30 which is adapted to, encircle the shank 2 and to slide freely thereon. is illustrated, this jaw and its sleeve are cutfrom a single piece of sheet metal which is bent so as t0 encircle the shank and shaped to form a snug sliding fit thereon, excepting in this respect, that at the back of the shank it extends to such a distance as to form a chamber adapted to receive the locking bolt 4. This chamber, at the back of the shank, is also threaded and the back edge of the shank similarly threaded forming a rack 20.

The locking bolt 4 is threaded to conform to the threading iny the sliding jaw and upon the edge of the same so that when the bolt 1s 1n place it forms a snug and yet freely turnable fit in the sleeve, and when placed so as to also engage with the rack 20 forms PATENT i OFFC` a secure lock to prevent Vmovement of the l i i sliding jaw along the shank.

To permit free sliding movement of the inner jaw when desired the bolt 4 is provided with a flattening surface 40 at one side, of

such extent that when the bolt is turned so as to present this face to the edge of the shank it will become entirely disengaged from said shank and prevent free sliding of the jaw. To enable the bolt 4 beingreadily turned when desired, its inner end is provided with a laterally extending arm 41 or with any other type of construction which will enable this bolt to be engaged and turned by the fingers. By turning the arm 41 down so that it extends outward in lateral direction, the jaw may be freed to move it in or out and then by turning the handle 41 upward so as to extend in the general plane ofthe wrench, the inner jaw is securely locked in position. f Y

The wrench shown in Fig. 3V includes the same principle of construction. In the case of the wrenchshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle is formed by an extension of the shank. In the wrench shown in Fig. 3 the handle 5 extends laterally from the shank and would more correctly be said to form an extension of the outer or fixed jaw 1. In other respects the wrenches are essentially alike.

To prevent the sliding jaw 3 sliding from the shank 2 of Fig. 3, I have provided a pin or screw 21 which may be removed when it is desired to remove the inner jaw, but which otherwise prevents its removal.

In the type of wrench shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the sharp edges formed kby the threaded back edge of the wrench would be objectionable, or painful to the hand of the operator. In consequence, it is desirable that this edge be covered. To secure this result I employ a sleeve 6 which may be formed by a piece of sheet metal bent to inclose the handle bar, and having its edges secured together. In the construction indicated the plate is spaced apart at the back edge by means of a filler bar 60. This protecting sleeve is secured in position upon the handle by means of a locking bolt 61 ioV which engages with the teeth of the thread `in the back edge yof the handleand with the has a lat surface 6l at'one side, similar to,

the bolt il. ln this way the sleeve may be quickly freed and adjusted or removed. 4 sliding it part vway out and looking it, theV sleeve may serve as a handle'extension. also prefer that the sleeve 6 should at 'all times extend enough lbeyond the -end of the -handle to inclose the bolt operatingv arm' 4 63. ln this case the sleeve wall should have a notch 62 therein to permit swinging'this arm outward. This arm is thus protected againstv injury "or accidental turning.

A wrench of the above construction is one which may be cheaply made. lt is rapid in its adjustment and also Apowerful ,in action.

llVhat I claim as my invention is: y y

l. A wrench having a shank provided at oneend with a laterally extending jaw, a sleeve slidable upon the shank and having a complemental iaw extending therefrom,

the part of the sleeve at thesideopposite to the j aw being spaced away from the shank` and having a rounded edge, the opening .in

l this edgeof the sleeve and the adjacent edge of the shank being threaded, and a threadedprovided with rack teeth, a complemental locking bolt lying within said sleeve and engaging the threads jon said sleeve and on said shank, said bolt having a 'iiat side and one end extending without the sleeve, said outer end being provided withan operating handle.

2. A wrench having a shank bar provided with'a jaw at one end Vand-its hack edge jaw formed by bending a plate about the shank and securing its ends, the back edge of the sleeve thus formed being threadedto match the teeth on theV shank and athreaded vbolt extending' within said sleeve and engaging with the threads of both sleeve and shank andhaving one flattened side adapted when turned in proper position, to tree the shank and permitsliding ot the sleeve upon 3. A Wrench havinga `fixed* jaw anda shank at right angles thereto, the back edge of said shank being toothed to form a rack, a sleeve surrounding said shank and having complemental jaw members at the front side of the said shank, said sleeve at its back edge being interiorly threaded to match the teeth of the rack and spaced to secure engagement oi the threads in both by a locking bolt and a threaded locking bolt having one side cut away to clear the teeth on the shank when properly turned.

4. A wrench comprising a handle bar having a jaw extending laterally fromone end and having the outer edge toothed to form rack, a complemental jaw formed by bending a Vbar about the handle bar and securing its ends, the opening which receives the handle plate being of a size Vto receive a threaded locking bolt at its back and being threaded to match the teeth upon the handle bar, a threaded locking bar within the back part of the jaw member engaging the threads thereof and of the handlebar and having one side cut away to clear the threads, and a handle sleeve removably secured to the outer end of the handle. Y

Y 5. A wrench having a Vhandle threaded on Y one edge to form a rack, a sleeve surround'- ing said arm and providing va bolt-receiving recess at the back of the handle'and being interiorlythreaded at this edge, a'locking bolt enteringVV this .recess and extending throughout the length of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve may be'securedl in different positions uponV the handle andserve as a handle extension. f Y

6. A wrench having a handle threaded on an edge, a sleeve surrounding said handle and providing a bolt receiving recess outside ol' said threaded edge of the handle, saidu 

